Devices for collecting and discharging cuttings from machine tools



Nov. 24, 1964 L. PERAS 3,

DEVICES FOR COLLECTING AND DISCHARGING CUTTINGS FROM MACHINE TOOLS FiledNov. 28, 1960 -Z' hPP)770y 1 CIE pay United States Patent 3,158,257DEVICES FOR COLLECTMG AND DESCHARGENG CUTTINGS FROM MACHEJE TGOLS LucienPras, Billancourt, France, assignor to Regie Nationalc des UsinesRenault, Billancourt, France Filed Nov. 28, 1960, Ser. No. 72,230 Claimspriority, application France, Nov. 27, 1959, 811,490, Patent 1,250,018 1Claim. (Cl. 198-221) This invention relates in general to devices forcollecting and discharging cuttings (chips, turnings, borings, etc.)from machine tools, and more particularly to improvements in devices ofthis character which comprise means whereby the conveyor chain (towhich, as known, a reciprocating movement is imparted) can pass from ahorizontal position to an inclined position with a view to facilitatethe discharge of the cuttings to the outside.

It is known from the art, as, for example, French Patent No. 890,408, touse a conveyor device of this character which consists of a tubecarrying depending V-shaped driving stems or like members and verticalupper spurs or like members, this tube being reciprocated in thecollector channel or chute and straddling a drawn-steel section by whichit is guided.

The improvements constituting the subject-matter of this inventionconsist essentially in dividing the tube constituting the cuttingsdriving member into separate sections hingedly interconnected by linkspivotally attached thereto. The guide tube disposed inside the tubulardriving sections may be curved to the desired radius to pass from ahorizontal position to an inclined position and the driving tubesections may thus pivot to accommodate the curvature of the guidemember. This arrangement is used preferably in those portions of theconveyor where a bend is contemplated.

In order to afiord a clearer understanding of the present invention andof the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice,reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing illustratingdiagrammatically by way of example a typical embodiment thereof. In thedrawing:

FIGURE 1 is a section taken across the longitudinal axis of a collectorchannel for discharging cuttings, which shows the arrangement of theconveyor chain of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view showing the relative arrangement ofthe channel, guide section and conveyor tube, and

FIGURE 3 is a part-sectional view showing the assembly of a tubulardriving member with the linkinterconmeeting the successive tubularsections.

Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the channel or chute 1along which the cuttings (not shown) are to be conveyed has a suitablecross-sectional contour. Mounted in and rigid with this channel is aguide section 2 supported by md welded on a vertical flat iron 3. Tothis end, this flat iron 3 has its lower edge welded edgewise on arelatively wide strip 4 secured in the bottom of the dischargechannel 1. Straddling the guide section 2 are a plurality of splittubular sections 5 clearly shown in FIG. 2, these sections having theedges of their lower slot 6 disposed on either side of the vertical flatiron 3. The tubular sections 5 are hingedly interconnected in a verticalplane by means of links 7 pivotally mounted on lugs 8 welded on the endsof these sections 5, as shown.

The relative arrangement of the links 7 and tubular sections 5 isclearly visible in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing. The links 7 are formedat their ends with forkjoints 9 receiving each a lug 8 between theirprongs. Pivot pin 10 formed with a head extends through the fork joint 9and lug 8, and is held in position by a spring clip 11 fitting on theend of the pivot pin shank. From the figures and more particularly fromFIG. 1, it will be seen from FIG. 2 that each tubular section 5 isprovided with a depending V-shaped stem or bow 12 and with an upper spur13, according to the known arrangement for carrying along the cuttings.Thus, when there is imparted to the assembly of the tubular sections 5and links 7 an alternative movement on the guide system 2-3, such thatthe runs of the means for carrying along the cuttings partially overlapeach other, the V-shaped stems or bows 12 serve principally to carryalong, in the direction of the opening of the V, the cuttings or likewaste materials having a small length and such that generally fall tothe bottom of channel 1, whereas the spurs 13 principally serve to carryalong in the same direction, that is, to the right of FIG. 1, thecuttings of greater length which are apt to remain above the mobileassembly in the collecting channel. By so forming the conveyor chainwith hingedly interconnected sections this chain can accommodate thecurvature of a curved guide section 2. Thus, this guide section 2 may begiven any desired contour to pass from a horizontal channel to aninclined channel in order to facilitate the discharge of the cuttings tothe outside. Of course, this arrangement, comprising hingedlyinterconnected chain sections, can only be used in a bent portion of thechain.

The length of the tubular sections 5 and the play left between the guide2 and sections 5 depend on the radius of curvature of the collectionchannel.

What is claimed is:

Conveyor means for cuttings and similar waste materials comprising acollecting channel having a curved portion including a horizontalportion which has a radius of curvature bent into an inclined portion, aguide section secured to said collecting channel over substantially thefull length of said horizontal and inclined portions, said sectionconsisting of a vertical flat plate having its lower edge secured tosaid channel and a circular bar member having its bottom secured to theupper edge of said plate, said bar member and plate having a radius ofcurvature corresponding to the curved portion of said channel, andcurved hollow elongated split tubular members slidably disposed oversaid member so the split portion of the hollow members straddles saidvertical plate with its split edges spaced from opposite side of saidplate, said hollow tubular members having a diameter substantiallylarger than said bar member to provide a substantial space between theinner surface of said hollow members and the outer circumference of saidbar member around the bottom and opposite side portions thereof to allowfree play therebetween to enable said tubular members to slide over thecurved portion of the guide bar member adjacent the curved portion ofsaid channel, and link members connecting said hollow members together,and material pusher members carried by said hollow members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,161,373 Milburn June 6, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 890,408 France Feb. 8,1944

